The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-05-07

ana Whipping Ill INC Jugs lHdO "iO
disposed to straggle and wander away.
When the master mounts and rides into
the yard, the dogs are brought out, and
the whole pack gathers about his horses
feet, yelping in eagerness, and watch
ing his face for the command to follow.
The dogs know what is coming, and are
impatient to be put on the scent. They
keep close to the master until they get
to the throw-off or the place where the
scent begins. When they find the scent,
away they go, and it takes a good horse
and a good rider to keep near them.
perhaps the most interesting part
of the sport is watching the hounds do
their work. They have their individual
peculiarities, that the master will dis
cover, and they learn his ways and his
voice and submit to his guidance.
There is much jealousy among the dogs,
and when they are keen on the scent it
is amusing to watch them and see how
they try to get the best of each other.
The older dogs get the scent and follow
it, and the rest run with them, spread
ing out to the sides so as to catch the
scent on sharp turns when the leaders
overrun and lose it. Sometimes a dog
that is on the extreme will get the scent
and give tongue and all the rest will
turn to follow him. That is called
scoring to cry and is pretty sight.
1t gives a dog that is behind the lead of
the pack, and the old dogs will strain
every nerve to regain their lost posi-
tons. Sometimes the leaders of the
pack will spread out to both sides in
search of the scent. A dog tagging
behind will keep on his course, come
right down through the center of the
pack, get the scent, and scurry away in
front of the whole lot. have seen old
dogs dodge around piece of brush or
cover, understanding that the fox has
gone through, and take up the scent on
the other side, leaving the younger and
hounds to work through
the brush and bring up the rear of
the procession. To make the hounds
run keen it is necessary to give them
to run after besides the odor
of anise. So we have a fox turned out
at the head of the run and let the dogs
chase him. The fox is released from a
bag about half an hour before the
hounds come into sight, and one old
dog is put upon his trail to keep him
and prevent his being surprised
by the pack. The old hound can not
catch him, and even if he could get up
to him the fox would beat the dog off.
1t is very seldom that single dog will
tackle a fox. l have seen fox spring
out from the middle of Il pack and
escape scot free. Very often our foxes
escape, and | am glad to see them get
away. don't like to see the hounds
tear fox, and am not in favor of using
foxes any oftener than is necessary to
keep the hounds keen in running. On
Hampstead Plains the fox has every
thing in his favor, and if he does not sit
down and wait until the hounds are
close upon him he has a pretty good
chance to save himself. In laying the
scent with the drag variety in the run is
secured. At intervals the man picks up
the drag and carries it, making a break
that'gives the hounds check. While the
dogs are trying to recover the scent the
horses get a breathing-spell and the
riders who have fallen behind have a
chance to catch up. The pack spreads
out and works over the ground until
one of the dogs gets scent and gives
tongue, when all the hounds are called
together by the master and the run is
resumed.
Hunting on Long Island is more
dangerous than it is in England, because
the fences are worse. A five-foot rail
fence is an ugly thing to face, and both
the horse and rider must have nerve to
take it. An English hedge is q trifiing
in comparison. In approach
ing a hedge, the horse can judge his
stride because he sees solid object be-
fore him, but he sees through a fence
and is liable to misjudge the distance.
In jumping a hedge ditch is something
of an aid to taking off, l think, and
no harm is done if the horse
touches in going over, because his legs
will brush through the top. If a horse
fails to clear stiff rail-fence and strikes
the top, he will hurt his legs or get Il
bad fall. There are no gaps in Long
Island fences, and very few gates
through which timid hunter may ride.
A man who follows the Meadowbrook
hounds must make up his mind to ride,
and ride WELL If he hasn't the nerve to
take every fence as he comes to it he
had better stay at home.
''Our men get falls enough to make
the sport exciting. In one season got
falls. broke mywrist, smashed
my nose, broke finger, and was rolled
upon great many times. was riding
green horses that year. Broken collar
bones, arms, legs and shoulders are
common results of falls over rail fences.
1t is very easy to get fall if one does
not manage his horse just right. In
going at il fence rider must manage
his horse according to the animals
ways and temper. Some horses must
be urged at a jump, others must be
steadied. and others must be let alone